Safety door apparatus.



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N.' GIRRENS.

I SAFETY DOOR APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1906. Y 986,816. Patented 1\1ar.14t,1911...I

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SAPETYDOOR APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1g, 190B.

Patented Mar.14,1911.

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UTTED STATES PATENT FTCE.

NICHOLAS GIRRENS, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SAFETY DOOR APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Nici-lonas Gmnnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Safety Door Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved safety door which is chiefly designed to be used in school-houses, theaters, churches and the like, and the object of the invention is to provide a door which can be opened by pressure against its inner surface to afford quick and convenient egress to the open air.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction which will be hereinafter described and claimed reference being had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of the improvement.

Figure 1 is an inside view of the improved safety door with portions of the panels broken away to expose the mechanism. Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the lock of the left hand door, showing the mechanism in its locked position. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the lock showing the tumbler lifted so as to release the locking bolt preparatory to withdrawing same. Fig. 4 is a top edge view of the locking bolt. Fig. 5 is a view of the lock similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing both the latching and the locking bolts withdrawn as when pressure is exerted upon the panel of the door. Fig. G is a similar view of the lock with the latch and latch spring and the tumbler and tumbler spring removed. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section through the improved safety door on line (z a., Fig. l, showing a plan view of the toggle mechanism for unlocking the door. Fig. S is an enlarged fragmentary sectionon line Z) h Fig. 7 through the outer panel of the left hand door, showing an end view of the sliding rod, its slideway and the hinge which connects one of the toggle levers tothe sliding rod. Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal section through the hinge which connects one of the toggle levers to the slideway of the sliding rod. Fig. 10 is a front view of the hinge, sliding rod and slideway shown in Fig. 8, the toggle lever being removed. Fig. 11 is a section on line c c, Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a section through the lock on line Z cl, Fig. 2. Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19, 1908.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911. Serial No. 433,772.

section through the right hand door and its lock on line e e, Fig. 1. Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the right hand door on line f f, Fig. 1, showing the swinging panel and the crank and rock shaft for releasing the lock. Fig. 15 is a detached outside view of one of the locking bolts for the right hand door. Fig. 16 is a detached inside view of the plate carrying the drum and rollers. l

In the accompanying drawings, a door construction is illustrated which is arranged so that pressure against the inner surface of the door will retract the locking device and swing the door open on its hinges.

Double swinging doors are hinged in the usual manner to the door casing 1, by hinges 2, and one of the doors is provided with upper and lower locking bolts 3 and 4 and the other with a door lock. The preferred construction of the door lock employed is shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12, and has the usual lock frame 5, which is set in the door in the ordinary manner and incloses a slidably mounted spring latch 6, which is retracted aga-inst the tension of a spring 7, by the usual manually operative knob 8, fitting in a square socketed sleeve 9, having oppositely extending arms 10, which bear against shoulders 11, on the latch. A locking bolt 12, is also slidably mounted in the frame and is fastened in either retracted or locking position by a tumbler 13. The tumbler is tensioned in its fastening position by a bent spring 14, and has a locking slot 15, through which a lug 16, attached to the bolt 12, projects. The lock is also provided with the usual key hole 17, through which a key is fitted to operate the locking bolt 12. Both the spring latch 6, and the locking bolt 12, may be retracted to entirely unlock the door and permit it to be instantly opened without turning the knob 8, or fitting and turning a key in the key hole by an independent safety mechanism.

That portion of the safety mechanism located within the lock frame 5, consists of a slide bar 18, provided with a projecting vertical arm 19, adapted to engage one of the shoulders 11, of the latch and a projecting horizontal arm 20, having a beveled surface 21, adapted to engage a correspondingly beveled portion 22, of the upper wall of a slot 23, in the tumbler 13.

As shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred form of door to which the lock is attached consists of a door frame 24; a' lower panel 25; an intermediate cross muntin 26; and double upper panels one of which,

indicated by the numeral 27 is rigidly and immovably mounted within the door frame 24, and the other of which, indicated by the numeral 28, is pivoted or hinged at its upper end to the door frame 24, by hinges 29,

'so that its lower end can swing toward or fromv the first mentioned panel. Means `for operating the slide bar 18, are located between the lower ends of the upper panels of the door and preferably consist of two toggle levers 30, and 31, which are connected at their meeting ends by a pivot pin 32, and a slide 33, which is connected at one end to one of theV toggle levers and at the opposite end to a pin 34. This pin is fastened in a lateral extension or lug 35, on the slide bar 18, and

which projects through a slot in the lock frame, see Fig. 12. The outer ends of the toggle levers are connected respectively to a channeled plate 36, attached to the inner surface of the panel 27, and to the slide 33, which is slidably mounted in said channeled plate'. The manner. of attaching the lever ends is preferably by means of double hinges 37 and 38 each of which has its pivots at right angles so that the levers can move horizontally tofoperate the slide 33, and vertically toV prevent binding. The hinge V38, is provided with a lug 39 which rests againstthe channeled plate or slideway 36,

and supports the toggle levers 30 and 31, in horizontal position, see Fig. 11. An opening is preferably made in the panel 28, in front of the toggle levers in which a dished plate 40, is fitted to provide additional room for the movement of the levers. AV bar 41 is pivoted at its center to the toggle levers by the same pin 32 which connects the meeting turned totheir normal position after being operated by a spring 43, anchored to a post 44 on the lock frame and having' its free end connected to the slide bar 18 by' a pivoted link 45. Then Vthe door opens and the pressure on the panel is removed this spring 43 returns the slide bar 18 and tumbler 13 to their normal position as shown in Fig. 2 so that the locky can be operated by the key in order to throw the locking bolt 12 and again lock the door.

The other door is preferably termed the door with boltmechanism to distinguish it from the door heretofore described which is providedV with a key locking mechanism. Referring to Figs. 1 and 13 to 16 inclusive, it will be seen that two spring tensioned locking bolts 3 and 4 are slidably supported by angle plates 46 and 47 which are fastened in depressions 48 and 49 in the upper and lower left hand corners, respectively, of the door frame 50. The bolts y3 and 4 are tensioned by springs 51 and 52 and have their projecting ends beveled as shown in Fig. 13. The beveled ends of the bolts are adapted to spring into depressions or locking' recesses 53 and 54 in the upper and lower portions of the door casing when the door is closed. This dooi` is substantially similar in construction to the door rst described and includes inaddition to the frame 50, a lower panel 55, an intermediate cross muntin 56 and double upper panels 57 and 58. The double upper panels are arranged so that the panel 57 is immovably fixed in the door frame 50 and the panel 58 is pivoted or hinged at its upper end to the door frame by hinges 59, so that its lower end can swing toward or from the immovable panel. A plate 60 is fitted in an opening 61 in the door frame 50 in line with the two locking bolts 3 and 4 and supports one end of a horizontal rock shaft 62. as shown at 63 to provide space for a drum 64 which is mounted on the rock shaft 62. Two metal bands 65 and 66 are fastened at their inner ends to the drum 64 and pass around guide rollers 67 and 68 carried by the plate 60 and then extend respectively, up and down through a channel 69 in the door frame 50 and have their outer ends fastened to the locking bolts 3 and 4. The bands are adapted to be partially wound on the drum to retract the bolts. The other end of the rock shaft is supported by a bracket 70 fastened to the inner surface of the fixed panel 57 and is rocked by a crank arm 71 which carries a roller 72 at its outer endadapted to be engaged by the inner surface of a (lished plate`7 3 fitted in the hinged panel 58. The crank arm 71 is limited in its outer movement by a project-ing stop 74 on the bracket 70 see Fig. 14. The locking bolts 3 and 4 and the plate 60 together with the dium 64, bands 65 and 66 and guide rollers 67 and 68 are concealed within the door frame 50 as shown in Fig. 13.` This portion of the door frame is made in two parts as shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 13 so as to afford convenient access to the mechanism'concealed therein.

The operation of this improved safety mechanism is as follows Pressure against the movable panels of either door suicicnt to move the same operates the toggle levers or the crank arm and through their connect ing mechanism retracts the bolts and permits the door or doors to be'instan'tly forced This plate is slotted open to permit a free and unobstructed exit.

While a double door construction is shown in the accompanying drawings, it is obvious that a single door provided with either a lock or fastening bolt or both can be equipped with the improved safety mechanism.

l claim as my inventionl. rllhe combination with a door and its locking mechanism, of a safety retracting mechanism for said locking mechanism including toggle levers, and double hinges connecting the outer ends of said toggle levers respectively to the door and the locking mechanism; said double hinges having their pivots at right angles so that the toggle levers can move in one direction to operate the locking mechanism and in another direction to prevent binding, and a panel movable toward and from the door and adapted to operatively engage the connected inner ends of the toggle levers.

9. The combination with a door and its locking mechanism, of a safety rctracting mechanism for said locking mechanism comprising toggle levers having the outer end of one lever hinged to the locking mecha- 'nism and the outer end of the other lever hinged to the door, and said levers having their inner ends pivotally connected, a strain distributing bar pivoted to the connected inner ends of the toggle levers, and a panel movable toward and from the door and adapted to operatively engage the strain distributing bar. l

3. The combination with a door, a spring latch mechanism for said door and alrey lock mechanism for said door, each of said mechanisms being adapted to be operated independently of the other, of a panel movable toward and from the door, and connections between the panel and both of said mechanisms, whereby movement of the panel will simultaneously retract both of said mechanisms.

4. The combination with a door and its locking mechanism, of a safety retracting mechanism for said locking mechanism comprising toggle levers, double hinges pivotally connecting the outer ends of the toggle levers respectively to the door and the locking mechanism, said double hinges having their pivots at right angles to permit movement of said toggle levers in a horizontal plane to operate the locking mechanism, and also in a vertical plane to prevent binding, and a panel movable toward and from the door and adapted to operatively engage the connected inn-er ends of the toggle levers.

5. The combination with a door and its locking mechanism, of a safety retracting mechanism for said locking mechanism comprising toggle levers and double hinges which respectively connect the outer end of one lever with the locking mechanism and the outer end of the other lever to the door, each of said double hinges having their pivots at right angles and the inner ends of said toggle levers being hinged to each other and said toggle levers being normally arranged at angles to each other with their inner connected ends extended from the door side whereby pressure on the inner connected ends of said levers will force them toward the door and retract the locking mechanism of the door.

(3. The combination with a door and its locking mechanism, of a member movable toward and from the door, a slide bar mounted on the door and horizont-ally slidable thereon; said slide bar having operative connection with the locking mechanism of the door, horizontally extending toggle levers having the outer end of one lever fixed to the door and the outer end of the other lever attached to the slide bar; said levers being adapted to be moved horizontally by the movement of the member.

7. The combination with a door having two panels, one of which forms an immovable portion of the door and the other of which is arranged at `one side of the door and is movable toward and from the first mentioned panel, of a locking mechanism for said door, a lslide bar mounted on the door, a. connection between the slide bar and the locking mechanism and toggle levers attached to the slide bar and having one end of one of the levers fixed to the door; said toggle levers being adapted to move to slide the slide bar and retract the locking mechanism by movementJ of the movable panel toward th-e door.

8. The combination with a door and a member movable toward and from t-he door, of a locking mechanism for said door and toggle levers mounted horizontally on one side of said door with the outer end of one lever fixed to the door and the outer end of the other lever operatively connected to the locking mechanism, and the connected inner ends of the levers being constructed and arranged to contact with the movable member.

9. The combination with a door having two panels, one of which forms an immovable portion of the door and the othery of which is arranged at one side of the door and is movable toward and from the first mentioned panel, of two independent locking mechanisms for said door and a safety retracting mechanism located between the panels and operatively connected to both of the locking mechanisms; said safety retracting mechanism being adapted to be operated by the movement of the movable panel toward the fixed panel.

10. The combination with a door having two panels, one of which forms an immovable portion of the door and the other of which is arranged at one side of the door is movable toward land from the irst mentionedV panel, of two independent locking mechanisms for said door and a safety retracting mechanism located between the panels and havingparts connected to each of the locking mechanisms, a part connected to the immovable panel of the door and a part ,contacting With the movable panel of the door; said safety retracting mechanism being adapted to be operated by movement of the movable panel tovvard the xedfpanel.

Y 11. The combination With a door having tivo independent locking mechanisms, of a member'movable toward or from the door and a bar adapted to be actuated by the movement ofthe member and having a part adapted-to engage one of the locking mechanisms and another part adapted to engage the other locking mechanism; said bar being adapted to retract the locking mechanisms when said bar is moved by the movable Y member.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for member movable toward or from the door and a horizontal slide bar mounted on the door and adapted to be moved horizontally thereon by a movement of the member; said slide bar having a vertical arm engaging one of the locking mechanisms and a Separate horizontal arm engaging the other locking mechanism; said slide bar bein adapted to retract the locking mechanisms when said slide bar is moved by the movable member.

14. The combination With a door having a plurality of independent locking mechanisms, of a safety retracting mechanism located on one side of the door and constructed and arranged to be manually actuated by pressure toWard the door to simultaneously retract all of said locking mechanisms.

15.' The combination With a door having two panels, one of which forms an immovable portion of the door and the other, of which is arranged at one side of the door and movable toward and from the lirstmentioned panel, of a plurality of independent locking mechanisms for said door, and a safety retracting mechanism including toggle levers operatively connected to all of said locking mechanisms and constructed* and arranged to simultaneously retract said locking mechanisms by movement of the movable panel toward the door.

NICHOLAS GIRRENS.

Vitnesses L. M. SANGSTER,

GEORGE A. NEUBAUER.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. C. 

